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GPs to shoulder costs of reversing patients from branded to generic pregabalin
GPs should certify over-75s’ fitness to drive every year, says Harriet Harman
‘UK wide agreement’ needed to protect GPs from indemnity increases
17:00 Manufacturer Novo Nordisk is recalling certain batches of NovoPen® Echo® and NovoPen® 5 over fears the insulin cartridge holder could crack, leading to under-delivery of insulin and hyperglycaemia, Pulse’s sister publication The Pharmacist reports.
Novo Nordisk said this component of the devices can be ‘structurally compromised’ if exposed to certain chemicals – including household cleaning products.
Patients with diabetes using the products from the affected batches should contact Novo Nordisk to replace the cartridge holder.
Details of the affected batches can be found here.
15:40 People in the US searching for ’depression’ on Google will soon be prompted to take a questionnaire to assess if they may be suffering from the illness, the BBC reports.
The company is working with the US National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to roll out the project in the US, the BBC reports.
Users searching for depression will be prompted to ’check if you’re clinically depressed’ .
NAMI said: ’While this tool can help, it’s important to note that PHQ-9 is not meant to act as a singular tool for diagnosis.’
12:45 A cancer patient has alleged he was solicited for a bribe by someone who claimed to be a member of staff at Amersham Hospital in Buckhinghamshire, the Bucks Herald reports.
The 83-year-old victim says he was called by a man who promised him an earlier procedure for an upcoming operation in return for money.
The patient was issued an apology by the trust after he reported the incident, his daughter told The Bucks Herald.
He has since been called in for an operation, attending the hospital on August 22.
A spokesperson for Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust said: ‘We take all breaches of procedure very seriously and will investigate any allegations that point out possible failures in our commitment to deliver safe and compassionate care.’
9:20 Public Health England have found that 41% of 40 to 60-year-olds take a brisk 10-minute walk less frequently than once a month.
They also claim that we are 20% less active than we were in the 1960s, the BBC among others reports.
PHE is urging middle aged people to take up regular brisk walks, and has released a free app – Active 10 – which monitors the amount of brisk walking an individual does and provide tips for people to increase the amount they do.
PHE deputy medical director Dr Jenny Harries said: ’I know first hand that juggling priorities of everyday life often means exercise takes a back seat.
’But walking to the shops instead of driving, or going for a brisk 10-minute walk on your lunch break each day, can add many healthy years to your life.’
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